Search continues high in sky, deep in water for ‘Lizzi’ Marriott’s body

Friday

Oct 26, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By ANDREA BULFINCHabulfinch@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — Day 13 of the search for missing University of New Hampshire student, Lizzi Marriott saw New Hampshire State Police aircraft scanning the grounds from above Pierce Island and nearby points as efforts to recover of the 19 year old’s body continue.Marriott, presumed dead by officials four days after her last appearance at the UNH Durham campus where she commuted from her home in Chester, has now been missing for more than a dozen days as officials from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Marine Patrol, the Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol canvass the span of water in and around the Piscataqua River.Seth Mazzaglia, 29, of Dover, is charged with second degree murder of Marriott. He was arraigned on the charge following evidence pointing to her death and where her body was disposed of officials say is “credible.”Mazzaglia is being held without bail at Strafford County House of Corrections.On Wednesday, Associate Attorney General Jane Young explained the extent the search, which also includes divers, saying Marine Patrol decides on a day to day basis where efforts will be concentrated based on tides and weather conditions.The search extended near Fox Point Road in Newington, an area Young said has been part of the search all along.Though no body has been found yet, prosecutors will move forward with the second degree murder charge and according to information from Charles Putnam, co-director, of the UNH Justiceworks program, former chief of the Attorney General’s Office homicide unit, spoke in general terms on Wednesday. He said prosecutors and AG officials are likely moving forward with the charge because they are confident it can be sustained and proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court. He stated his opinion based on his own observations from working in the AGs office and not from any details of this investigation.Mazzaglia is scheduled for a probable cause hearing Monday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m. at Dover District Court.Young could not be reached for comment on Thursday.